The Puffer Forum

i was sent here from fishlore for my puffer & i now think i know what is wrong with him. i used quick cure cause he had white spots on his fins & i think thats whats wrong with him. since ive used it ive done a water change but he still not looking good. what do i do to save him? please help

Just looked at your post here http://www.fishlore.com/fishforum/brack ... ost1597339
(link posted so others in the forum here can get up to speed on the situation)

I would agree with JRC3's posts make sure your ammonia and nitrite is 0 and your nitrate below 50. GSP's do need to be in a high brackish environment. But before you deal with raising salinity make sure the water is clean first. Continue to do large water changes ASAP and perhaps leave the light off to reduce stress.

Hope things work out.

EDIT: If your tank needs to be cycled get some Tetra Safe Start ASAP: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=32416

One of our experts is not online but I did get this message from him:

Dadof4 wrote:Well, white spots are normal on the fins with most puffers. As long as they're not like salt and raised up. All puffers have spines, visible or not, and it is normal to see little spots on the tail and fins from where those spines would have been. I call them pores.

First thing to do W/Cs to get the quick cure out of there and run carbon to help eliminate it. Second have all water parameters listed. GSP's usually don't look good because something is outta whack. WC's right now are his best friend.

Others will be on to chime in shortly. Is he still swimming around and how is his breathing? Is it labored and heavy?

I read your original post on fishlore, but may have missed the information; how big is the tank?

You need to be doing lots of large waterchanges but be sure your sg doesn't fluctuate too much or you will open yourself right up for new problems. I would bet money that this is a water quality issue.

Also are any deodorants or air fresheners used in the room?

bertie 83 wrote:You need to be doing lots of large waterchanges but be sure your sg doesn't fluctuate too much or you will open yourself right up for new problems. I would bet money that this is a water quality issue.

They currently don't have SG. They were having SOME reading from what I read in the original post, but they stopped adding salt when they did a water change so it's no longer registering.

OP, what was your salt reading when you actually had one? How much were you increasing your SG by each week?

I've followed the thread on FL and I don't think the SG is anything significant. I have yet to find out tank size but I do know ammonia has not been tested. I heard the puff was better after a WC but the OP thought it was because the Quick Cure was diluted. Does Quick Cure actually harm puffs?..I think the WC lowered the ammonia. I reccomended 50% daily WCs and stop feeding for a few days because he is porked up...Could also be constipated but I recommended controlling the ammonia before worrying about possible constipation.

aacf7392, not to take away from FL because I think it's a great site, but in regards to your puffer pay attention to this thread.

Saw the videos on the fishlore thread. Looks like a 20H aquarium. And that internal filter looks like it does not produce enough flow. I would suggest a good HOB filter rated for a 30-60 gallon tank due to the puffers high bioload. Make sure to get carbon and run it in the filter as well or get one of those carbon boxes that run off an air pump. Carbon will aid with removing Meds and other chemicals added to the water.

Examples:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00026 ... UTF8&psc=1
http://www.amazon.com/Marineland-Pengui ... supplies_1
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00063 ... UTF8&psc=1

it is a 30 gallon tank. ive got 2 filters running in it. no deodorants or air freshner in the room. done a 50% WC yesterday & fixing to do another one here in a minute. i have no way to check ammonia level because i only have the 5-N-1 strips. i live an hour away from any walmart or fish store, i'll try to get there this weekend & purchase something to test for ammonia. puffer looks so bad, i know he's suffering. i feel horriable for him.

just done 50% water change & checked the water levels. nitrate 0 nitrite 0 TA 120 Ph 7.2

puffy died today

Im sorry

Sorry you lost little puffy